Hello and welcome to the new National Native Network website and blog. This blog will allow the National Native Network to provide timely and up-to-date information and resources to all of our users. We are excited about this blog as it will allow us to not only provide information to our users but allow our users to leave comments and possibly share their own resources which will allow for a wider conversation about addressing cancer and commercial tobacco health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

What is the National Native Network?

The National Native Network serves Tribes, tribal communities, tribal-organizations, and health care systems by facilitating partnerships and connecting people and resources to decrease the burden of cancer and commercial tobacco health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The Network seeks to serve all 566 federally recognized Tribes, 68 state recognized Tribes, and urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities in the U.S. The Network hosts a repository of resources that can be used in efforts to improve the effectiveness of cancer and commercial tobacco use prevention and control efforts in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Why is the National Native Network important?

Cancer is a leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). AI/ANs face inequities in cancer incidence and mortality. Over the last two decades, AI/ANs have not experienced the same progress in cancer control that non-hispanic Whites have benefitted from. AI/AN populations have the highest rates of commercial tobacco use compared to all U.S. populations, experience a greater burden of illness and death due to related chronic diseases and lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death.